Every Vow She Breaks (24 page)

She stood and walked slowly toward the water. Blond hair whipped in the breeze, and her windbreaker flattened against her back with each gust. Every slow, purposeful step took her further away. After a minute, he rose and followed.

“Maybe we can compromise.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “That would be fine if we weren’t so far apart to begin with. What do you want, Jed?”

For once, the words flowed easily. “I want what I have now—but with you added to the mix. I want to work and play and have you beside me while I do both.”

“On Donner Summit?”

“Ideally. At least for the winter. I wouldn’t mind spending summers at the beach.”

She stuffed her hands in her pockets. “Here in Shady Bend?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know what I’d do here. I have to support myself.”

“So do I. I travel where I need to for each project. I’d be willing to spend time in the mountains when I could. I can be flexible to a point.”

“So maybe we could make it work.”

Her eyes told him she wanted to believe him—but didn’t.

“For a while, but then what? I don’t want to be a nomad. I want a home base. In time, I want a family. I guess I just want normal.”

His throat squeezed tight. Normal might as well be a noose of responsibility.

She touched his arm. “Normal is everything you don’t want. I get that.”

“So we kiss and say good-bye? Jesus, Claire.” He could barely choke out the words.

“Maybe we both need a break to think about it. I’ll call when I get back from Crescent City. I’m sure you have things you need to do in the meantime.”

He had plenty of things to attend to, starting with chopping a winter supply of wood. “What about your stalker?”

“Let’s not do anything right now. If he leaves another note after I get back, I can re-evaluate my options, maybe call the police then. I’m hoping he’ll quit.”

He snorted. “Freaks like that don’t stop until someone stops them.”

“I need a break from…everything.” Her eyes darkened. “Please don’t push me. I’ll make some decisions when I get back.”

“Okay.” He wanted to argue but was pretty sure she’d shatter into pieces if he did. Fine china dropped on the pavement. For now, he’d let her have the space she needed. Didn’t mean he’d give up. Didn’t mean he’d give in.

Maybe they
both
needed a break.

* * * *

Claire’s eyes burned as she knelt on the bed to pull back the curtain. Jed’s tent was set up on the other side of the yard beneath the big fir tree. After they’d eaten a meal in strained silence, he hadn’t even asked where she expected him to sleep. Probably for the best. She wasn’t sure she could have turned him down.

Was she a fool for blowing up at him then dragging their relationship into the misunderstanding over Bart, which could have been easily settled? She let the curtain fall and flopped back onto the bed. Maybe, but the discussion was long overdue…and had ended exactly as she’d feared. Better to know for sure than to play
what if
games. Ripping away a bandage with a swift jerk was preferable to slowly peeling it back at the edges. The pain was sharp but didn’t last as long.

If she thought the platitude enough times, she might even start to believe it.

The digital clock taunted her throughout the night. When she finally crawled out of bed at six-thirty the following morning, her lids scraped across eyes grainy with lack of sleep. After throwing on a robe and grabbing jeans and a T-shirt to change into, she let Scoop out of the motor home then crossed the dew covered grass, shivering in the early morning chill. A hot shower gave her a burst of energy she feared would soon fade.

After drying and slicking on a layer of vanilla scented lotion, she reached for her bra, only to realize she hadn’t brought one with her. With a shrug, she dressed and ran a comb through her hair. Grabbing her robe, she pushed her feet into a pair of flip-flops then opened the bathroom door…and ran straight into Jed. Her nose pressed against hard pecs covered with warm skin. She sucked in a breath. He smelled a heck of a lot better than her lotion.

“Whoa, there.” His hands settled on her shoulders. “I was just about to knock to see how much longer you’d be.”

“I’m finished.” She swallowed and backed up an inch. “Where’s your shirt?”

“I didn’t bother putting one on. What’s the point when I’m just going to take it off to shower?”

Her gaze dropped. At least he’d
bothered
to put on a pair of pants, even if they did hang low on his hips with the top button unfastened. She stepped back then flattened against the doorframe as he squeezed by.

“Uh, I’ll go make breakfast. Eggs, pancakes or cereal?”

His blue eyes were slightly unfocused when he finally raised them to meet hers. “Eggs, over easy.”

She glanced down. Erect nipples poked against the soft material of her T-shirt. Her cheeks heated. “Okay, eggs coming up.”

He stroked the side of her face with a finger. “They aren’t the only things coming up. I don’t suppose…” He jerked his thumb toward the shower.

“I can’t.” Her voice hitched. “I want to.” She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe. “I really want to, but I can’t. We’re on a break, remember.”

“Seems like we could start our break in an hour or two.”

She shook her head. “I’ll go make breakfast.” Pushing past him, she ran down the stairs and through the front door. The cold breeze slapped her in the face and knocked a little sense into her. She’d made the right decision even if it felt like the wrong one.

Twenty minutes later, Jed knocked on the RV’s door and pushed it open just as she slid perfectly cooked eggs onto a plate beside bacon and toast. His hair was still damp from the shower, but at least he was fully dressed. After handing him his breakfast, she cracked two more eggs into the pan and caught the second round of toast when it popped.

Brushing against her back, he reached for a mug from the cupboard to fill with coffee before taking a seat. “You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”

“No trouble.” Grease splattered as she flipped the eggs.

He laid down his fork. “Are you sure about this, Claire? I could still come with you.”

She sat across from him with her food. “I’m sure.” The first bite of toast stuck in her throat. With an effort she swallowed it down.

Jed broke off a piece of bacon and tossed it to Scoop. “Will you at least call me?”

Positive any verbal response would end on a sob, a quick nod was her answer. They finished eating in silence.

He rose to place their plates in the sink. “I’ll wash these.”

“No, I’ve got them.”

His expression hardened. “In that case, I’ll finish packing my stuff. Doesn’t seem like there’s much point in leaving any of it here.”

When the door shut with a thud, she gripped the edge of the table so hard the laminate surface creaked. One whimper escaped before she dashed tears from her cheeks and attacked the dishes. Water sloshed and silverware clattered. The coffee mug Jed had used slipped through her fingers to shatter against the edge of the sink. When the broken pieces blurred before her eyes, a second whimper slipped out followed by a third.

Scoop pushed his head against her thigh and whined.

“Sorry, baby.” Dragging in a breath, Claire closed her eyes for a long minute. When she opened them again, her hands were steadier as she picked up the ceramic pieces. A half hour later, the motor home was tidy and ready for travel. There was nothing left to do but tell Jed good-bye.

Letting the dog out, she followed him to the SUV. Jed slammed the back door of the loaded vehicle and turned. Reaching out, he rubbed Scoop’s ears.

“All ready to go?”

She nodded. “Looks like you are, too.”

He reached in his pocket to pull out a set of keys. “I locked up the house for you. What about the contractor?”

“I called Theresa to tell her I was leaving for a few days. She’ll field any questions. Since he’s starting with the outside first, he can still keep to his schedule.” She lifted the keys from his palm.

Jed turned his hand over and closed it around her wrist. With a tug, he brought her up close against his chest. His sober gaze met hers. “This isn’t good-bye.”

“I know.”

The other hand tilted her chin. “I don’t think you do.” He lowered his head to kiss her. When he finally pulled away, a little smile tilted the edges of his lips. “I’ll give you some time, but I’ll be back. You can count on it.”

Good God, the woman was never going to shut up! All he wanted was to pick up his package, not wait around while the old biddy behind the counter asked questions about the teenage daughter of the customer in front of him, a stupid chicken recipe and—

“I heard Claire Templeton is fixing up her great-aunt’s house. Is she going to move into the place or sell it?” The postmistress handed the dark-haired woman a book of stamps and took a twenty-dollar bill in exchange.

“Claire’s staying in Shady Bend. She already hired a contractor for the major repairs and has been doing a lot of interior painting herself.”

“Wonderful.” The relic passed back a handful of change. “I bet you’re glad. I know you two were close back in high school.”

The woman stuffed dollar bills in her wallet along with the stamps. “I’m looking forward to having my old friend around, although she just left for a few days to take photographs for another article she’s working on.”

He stiffened.
Claire’s gone? Where the hell did she go? Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Oh? Where’d she go?”

“She’s photographing Northern California lighthouses for this story, starting with Battery Point up in Crescent City.”

The postmistress pushed rhinestone decorated glasses up her nose. “That’s a pretty one. It’s been a few years since I was up there, but I remember walking out to the lighthouse at low tide.”

“I’d better go.” The woman glanced over her shoulder with an apologetic smile. “I’m holding up your line.”

Since he was the
line
, he felt obligated to respond. “That’s okay.”

“You take care, Theresa, and tell Claire I said hello the next time you see her.”

The woman left, and he stepped up to the counter.

The postmistress smiled. “Now, what can I do for you, young man?”

“I’m expecting a package, general delivery. The name’s—”

“I have it right here.” She turned, cutting him off, and stretched on her toes to reach a padded mailer on the shelf behind her then placed the envelope in front of him. “Only one general delivery package came in today. Is this yours?”

He glanced at the label. “Sure is. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, and thank
you
for your patience while I chatted with Theresa. Have a nice day.”

“Don’t you need to see my ID?”

“Oh, I suppose I should.” Her gaze swept past him, and she smiled. “Well, hello Ralph. Shouldn’t you be in your kitchen for the lunch rush?”

He pulled his wallet out of his pocket.

The postmistress waved a hand. “Take your package. I trust you.”

Clutching the envelope to his chest, he passed a stout, grizzled man as he left the building. Once on the street, his fingers traced the outline of the photos inside the padded envelope, and his breath came a little faster…until he remembered.

He smacked the side of his vehicle. Claire was gone. Still, she wasn’t out of reach. He’d always find her no matter where she went. Her little disappearing act might delay implementing his plan for a day or two, but no longer. Pulling open the door, he slipped onto the seat. A road trip was in order. North to Crescent City.

* * * *

Jed brought the axe down with enough force to send the two halves of the round sailing ten feet. Grabbing the next one, he hefted it into place and raised the axe again.
Crack.
The wood split beneath the blow.

So, maybe he was taking his frustration with Claire out on the pile of lodge pole pine. The good news was he’d have his winter supply of wood split in no time at the rate he was going.

Had she called him the previous evening to check in? No.
Crack.
Had he spent half the night wondering if everything was okay? Damn right.
Crack.
At ten-thirty he’d given in and called her. Her cell went straight to voice mail, and she hadn’t bothered to respond to his message. Damn woman.
Crack.

When his ring tone trilled, he dropped the axe, narrowly missing his booted foot, to snatch the phone from his pocket. Not Claire. His shoulders slumped as he answered.

“Hey, Kane.”

“Hey, yourself. I hear you had dinner with Grace and Travis the other night. You still on the coast?”

He sat on the upended round he’d been using as a chopping block. “No, I’m home. Got here late yesterday afternoon.”

“How does Claire like your cabin? According to Rachel…wait, she wrote this down so I’d get it right.” Paper rustled, and a clunk sounded in his ear. “Sorry. I dropped the phone. Rachel says Grace thought Claire was perfect for you, and you’d be a fool to let her get away. Don’t mess this one up.”

“Is that all?”

“It’s all she wrote down.”

Jed grinned. “Why didn’t Rachel just call me herself?”

“She was going to, but I told her I needed to talk to you anyway. She made me promise to relay her message verbatim.”

“Claire isn’t here.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re taking a break.”

There was silence for a moment before Kane spoke. “Who instigated this…break?”

“She did. We had a conversation about life goals, and…well…”

“You made it clear you didn’t have any.”

“Hey!”

“Sorry. What did you tell her?”

“The truth. I like my life the way it is. She’s looking for something a little more normal. Normal was her word, not mine.”

“Too bad. Grace thought Claire might be the one you’d change for. At least that’s what she told Rachel. I’m pretty sure there was a lot more along that vein, but I tuned out when the baseball game came on.”

“And you wonder why I’m not married.”

“The Giants were playing. Anyway, I like being married. Just yesterday…never mind. Bet you’d like it, too, if you ever gave a woman half a chance.”